The 4th Company (2017)

A compelling foray into the gritty underbelly of Mexico's penal system, The 4th Company, or La Cuarta Compañía, is an unflinching cinematic journey rooted in stark reality. Set against the grim backdrop of the Mexico Distrito Federal penitentiary in the turbulent era of the late '70s and early '80s, the film unveils an unsettling panorama of corruption that remains alarmingly relevant today. At the heart of the story is Zambrano, a young offender naively yearning to trade his shackles for the camaraderie and competition of the prison's American football league, Los Perros. However, this aspiration leads him into the lion's den, where the line between sport and survival blurs. Los Perros is more than a team - it's the 4th Company, a formidable faction of inmates pulling the strings of the prison's services and privileges. Under the deceptive guise of athletic pursuits, the 4th Company carries out various crimes while "on pass", serving as pawns in a sinister chess game orchestrated by men of power. This unsettling alliance between authority and organized crime extends beyond the prison walls, subjecting the city to their malevolent whims and yielding substantial profits for the puppeteers in power. The film, an audacious exploration of power dynamics and corruption, mirrors the raw intensity of its setting, featuring real inmates from the penitentiary in its cast. Inspired by true events and shot in the unvarnished style reminiscent of City of God, The 4th Company is a rare gem in Mexican cinema, a piercing critique that was not warmly welcomed by the government it dares to challenge. This stirring narrative promises to rivet viewers, offering a peek into a world where the rules of the game are dictated by those least expected.

The 4th Company is an action movie featuring Adrián Ladrón and directed by Amir Galván Cervera.

It is possible to buy The 4th Company on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies and YouTube.